Textile fiber converting apparatus



March 23, 1954 D. G. c. HARE 2,672,654 TEXTILE FIBER CONVERTING APPARATUS Filed July 22, 1947 INVENTOR DONALD G. C. HARE Patented Mar. 23, 1 9 54 TEXTILE FIBER CONVERTING APPARATUS Donald G. C. Hare, Clemson,

Deer-ing Milliken Research S. 0., assignor to Trust, New York,

N. Y., a nonprofit trust of New York Application July 22, 1947, Serial No. 762,555 3 Claims. (Cl. 19-131) The present invention relates to draft spin- :ning machines used in the conversion of textile filaments into yarn or roving and comprises improved means for eliminating or reducing the licking of fibers onto the front or draft rolls of .such machines. The invention includes also mean particularly adapted for use in direct towto-yarn spinning machines operative both to re- :duce or eliminate such licking of fibers on the draft rolls and otherwise to improve the uniformity of the yarn produced by the machine.

During the drafting operation, when a fiber licks on to the draft rolls, it tends to drag with other fibers from the strand. The resulting yarn or roving is thereby weakened and breakage is apt to occur. Even if the yarn does not actually break, its quality may be so seriously impared as to render it unfit for its intended purpose.

The conventional clearer or scavenger rolls provided in many draft spinning mechanisms are primarily intended to prevent excessive build up of fibers on the draft rolls after the yarn has broken and while an end is being pieced up, as during such period drafting continues but the emitted fibers are not being spun. Such clearer or scavenger rolls are useful in that they tend to avoid shut down of the entire machine, which may comprise hundredsof spinning units, each time the yarn to one spindle breaks, but do not appreciably prevent the licking of fibers on the rolls, ones of the prime causes for yarn breakage.

In accordance with the invention excessive yarn breakage in a spinning mechanism is avoided by the provisionof an endless belt which travels for a distance along with the emitted fibers and at the same linear speed, and then departs abruptly from their path. Preferably two such belts are provided on opposite sides of the yarn and preferably also, when yarn is being spun directly from tow, such belts extend up into the ratch and serve during such portion of their travel, to smooth and guide the filament ends in their travel to the nips of the draft rolls.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a draft spinning mechanism, equipped with moving belts arranged for elimination of licking of fibers on the draft rolls in accordance with the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of a direct tow-to-yam spinning machine showing belts ar ranged to serve the dual purpose of elimination of licking and guidance of filaments in the ratch.

InFig. 1, a yarn spinning mechanism is indicated diagrammatically as including a pair of feed rolls 2 and 4, a pair of draft rolls 6 and 8 and a conventional ring spinner III. In accordance with the invention, an idler roll l2, of a diameter substantially less than that of the draft rolls and of an axial length equal to that of the draft rolls, is rotatably supported beneath and in advance of the draft roll 6 and an endless belt l4, substantially the width of the rolls is passed around the rolls 6 and I2 so as to move'at the peripheral speed of the draft rolls. In Fig. 1, a second similar idler roll I3 is similarly supported beneath and in advance of draft roll 8, and an endless belt [5 passes around such second idler roll and the draft roll 8. The belts l4 and 15, as above indicated, travel at the peripheral speed of the draft rolls and diverge through a relatively small angle as they approach the idler rolls I2 and I3. The belts l4 and I5 and emitted fiber strand l6 thus travel at the same speed between the draft rolls and the idler rolls l2 and 13. Because of the relatively small diameter of the rolls l2 and I3, the belts l4 and I5 have an abrupt change of direction as they pass around these rolls and leave the vicinity of the fiber strand. This abrupt change of direction of the moving walls or belts has been found to act as a detergent to fiber licking with the result that in mechanisms equipped with such moving belt or belts, yarn breakage due to licking is largely eliminated.

Although, as indicated in Fig. 1, each of the draft rolls is preferably-provided with the moving belt with its abrupt change of direction relative to that of the travel of the fiber strand, substantial reduction in licking of fibers can be eifected by the provision of a single such belt passing around one or the other of the draft rolls.

In Fig. 2, a direct tow-to-yarn spinner is shown and means similar to those of Fig. 1 for eliminating licking of fibers on the draft rolls are shown combined with and forming extensions of, belts or walls moving in the ratch area for improving the uniformity of the yarn. The provision of one or two walls in the ratch area moving at the peripheral speed of the draft rolls, aids in smoothing and guiding the fibers in their travel to the nips of the draft rolls, reduces wild ends in the sliver, and results in the production of more uniform yarn. As shown in Fig. 2, the means of the present invention for eliminating licking on the draft rolls may be conveniently formed as extensions of such moving walls or belts.

In Fig. 2, a direct tow-to-yarn spinning 3 mechanism is diagrammatically indicated as comprising the feed rolls 2a and 4a, the draft rolls, 6a, 8a and ring spinner [a. In accordance with the invention, a pair of idler rolls l8 and 20 are positioned relatively high in the ratch, and a second pair of idler rolls I211 and Ba are positioned beneath the draft rolls 6a and 8a, respectively; the axes of both sets of idler rolls beins parallel' tozthe axesaof therdraftfroll's; The rolls l2aand l3a,.like rolls l2 and'l3 of liig. l are of relatively small diameter and of a length substantially equal to the length of the draft rolls;- A belt Ma, which passes aroundddler-rolls .-l8a ndl M is moved at the peripheral speed 'of the draft rolls through engagement of'oneora-botn.stretches:v thereof with the draft rollvliim Similarly a belt la, passing around rollers 20 and-1311',- isdriven at the same rate throughrcontactiwith draft roll 8a. Thus, at any moment,' the upper downwardly moving reaches of belts Mal and-15a in the ratch area operate to smooth and guide the bers i thsn ard o he insof the draft rolls and, the lower; parts of the .belts,-by their abrupt change 1 of i direction upon passage around 7 the srna idlerrolls l Zaand 1 3o, seryeto; prevent licking of;.;fibers on the dratt-rollsas explained in JQQ QP Q LW t H -A-.

The invention has now; been described with pantioularsrefe rence 1 to tyarnspinning mechaiemavbut-p r u l t hgi ve i n :i p 1ic b1e to dr afting; mechanisms irrespective of whether yarn or roving is produced; The invention is also applicable-to either or;both;stage s-ofa two stage tow-toyarn prooess, whether employed ionly forv tion oflicking onthe low er i rollsxor, as sho n=inFig.;2, -in conjunction with one or more walls znoving in theratchlarea. Obviously,. vari ous;chahgesin1the particular constructions shown and; described; could be made .without: departing:

o 'smnt' 1 f z nerv nr iohn r x mple -:the;- small'rolls; positioned inproximity, to; the path; of 1 travel of the .fiber' strand have i been described: as-n idler rolls, ,these rollscould be wdriven ;if ldesired, as for:=texample,- in the embodiment of Fig. 2; ii -driving engagement be-l w lfli the draft rollfi andabelts insufficient to: prevent slipand; eonventional clearer rolls could be positioned if ;desired,i;ad-.iacent -the moving= wall s for continuously removing therefrom-such 250 modifications ill occur to those skilled-in the fibers as may ,have adhered- 1 thereto; Other The following is claimed: 1. The combinatiom with,. a 1 yarn spinning meohanism having a final pairlofzdraft rolls of'a device forteliminating; licking of fibers on said draft rolls' which comprises :at least one endless; wall moving at the-peripheral speed of the draft: rolls .along=- an elongated; 'path, -.a:,fu'st portion= of said path being, substantially contiguous and parallel .to-the fiber istrand emitted by said: draft rollfs andt av second portion of-said' path converge; ing atan acute angle with said first portion-iniw 4:; direction away from said draft rolls and joining said first portion at a point spaced from said draft rolls whereby a sharply angular bend is formed in said path in the region of its departure from contiguity with said strand.

2. A combination with a mechanism for spinning a strand of fibers including a pair of feed rolls, a final pair of draft rolls spaced from said feed rolls zandi 'a-:.twist inserting device following said draft'rolls of means for eliminating licking of fibers on said draft rolls which comprises a pair of rolls of diameter substantially less than that of -said draft-rolls spaced from and positioned between said draft rolls and said twist inserting .device*and a pair of endless belts, each of which passesiaround one of said spaced rolls and oneofsaid draft rolls, being driven by its associated draftlrollzand moves along a path of substantially V-shape in the region between said spaced-roll and said draft roll, diverging in the direction toward said draft roll, each spaced roll being located-.iat :the ,apex .of 'its respective b'elt path-and one .leg; of; each belt pathbeing proximate to etherpath ofsthe strand asnit-passes be tweensaiddraft roll? and said spaced rollsr 3. The combination with a meehanism for spinning a-strand' of fibers includinga pair of feed rolls and a finalpair of'draft rolls of =meansfor eliminating licking OfifibBl'S on: saidi'draft rolls which comprises a pairof guide lrollsof diameter substantial-1y;lessathan'rthatlof said draft 'rolls and between which said .strand' is-adapted to pass;- said guide ,rolls- .pbeinggdisposedxonv the trailing side of said draft rolls with respectto the direc tion of strand travel; and. a' pair. of :endless belts; each beltpassing- 1about=a draft' 'roll and on'e of-- said guide rollsaand being driven by its asso-= ciated draft roll at the-surface speedr.thereof,-said' guide rolls ibeing; spaced fromleach' otherto provide a slight divergence of the inner opposed reaches of saidbelts r-in' the direction-ofstrand travel, each Of,S3id' b81llS at their'points of: contig-r uous separation from 1 saido strand; following a curve d. path -thevradiuswfu which-is small 'com--' pared tothe-radiusrof-thedraft rolls so'asto prevent fibempickupon- :theibelt surfaces- DONALDIG. o; HARE.

References -Citedin the file ofthis patent"v UNITED "STATES PATENTS Number Name": Datel,297g, 794= Casablancas Mar.=l8;1919= 2376 951; Keno-nus [Apr-:13, 1937 2,257,042; Eastman et' al.- Sept. 23, 1941.2 2,410,-0 20,,- De :Lathauwerauun Oct. -29','--1946 2,435 151' Piron Jan. 27=,* 1948 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date:

426 Great Br-itainen i 1867-! 384,822 Great Britain Dacia-1932; 402642 Italy Nov; 9,;1944i 

